(168) Chapter: Etiquette of Staying, Riding, Encamping at night and sleeping during the Journey and other matters relating to the Journey

Abu Ja'far 'Abdullah bin Ja'far (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made me ride behind him one day and confided something to me which I shall never disclose to anyone. ('Abdullah added:) He ((ﷺ) preferred to screen himself from others when responding to the call of nature, either behind a wall or the trunk of a date-palm. [Muslim]. Al-Barqani added: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered an orchid belonging to an Ansari and saw there a camel. When it saw him, it began to groan and its eyes shed tears. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) approached it and patted it on the hump and the base of its head until it quieted down. Then he (ﷺ) asked, "Who is the owner of this camel? To whom does it belong?" An Ansari youth stepped forward and said: "It is mine O Messenger of Allah!" He said, "Do you not fear Allah in respect of this beast which Allah has placed in your possession? This camel is complaining to me that you starve it and put it to toil." [Abu Dawud]. Commentary: The Prophet (PBUH) must have divulged to the Companion something confidential for which he promised secrecy. Otherwise, anything concerning the Shari`ah should not be concealed. Second, if an animal has the capacity to carry two men, the rider can let another person sit behind him. Third, to give scanty food to an animal and to get the maximum out of it amounts to injustice. Islam disapproves this act. Animals should be fed to their fill and the amount of work to be done by them must also be not beyond their capacity. In this Hadith, there is a mention of the Prophet's miracle that a camel recognized him. He heard the camel's complaint and also understood it.